Meeting Author Tom Anglerberger

Tom Angleberger visited a local bookstore last week, and I took Calfgrit11 out to see him. CG11 is joining the book club, (called “Guys Read”), at his new middle school, and this author’s tour was to be his first introduction to the group.

We got there at 6:30, (half an hour before the author was to get there), and immediately found Angleberger’s latest book: Secret of the Fortune Wookie on front display. There was already a sizable crowd of kids and parents, at the book store, (mostly boys and moms), so I directed CG11 to grab us some seats while I continued looking around to find a new book for me to read.

I haven’t had the time to read much in the last few years, what with family life, work responsibilities, my exercise regimen, and maintaining this site taking up all my time. I used to read a lot, but I’ve been somewhat saddened by my lack of the activity recently. I see how much CG11 reads, and I’ve thought that he’s probably already read as many books by 6th grade as I have at 45 years old. But then as I browsed the science fiction and fantasy section of the book store I was reminded of just how much I really have read through the years. At just about every classic author’s section, I found that I’d already read all or most of their books. It kind of got a bit comical that I couldn’t find something I hadn’t already read.

Sure, there were many newer books by newer authors, but I wasn’t sure of their quality, so I couldn’t bring myself to buy one. Eventually I came to Terry Pratchett’s section. This is one of very few classic well-known authors whose work I haven’t chewed through years ago. I’ve actually only read one of his books, (Going Postal), but I liked it a great deal, so I grabbed another one, (Monstrous Regiment), and bought it. I then joined Calfgrit11 in the seats to wait for Tom Anglerberger to arrive.

Angleberger arrived on time, and the kids loved his show. He talked about his books, how he writes them, how he comes up with his characters, and he drew some. Then the book store took him to the signing table and everyone lined up to get their book(s) signed. Calfgrit11 and I found the book club teacher at this time and we ended up talking a bit while the line formed, so we ended up at the penultimate place in the line. That meant it was almost 9:00 by the time we got to the author’s table and got CG11’s books signed. (CG11 brought two Angleberger books from home to get signed with the latest one we bought that day.)

At the author’s table, while signing the books, Angleberger asked CG11 who his favorite Star Wars character is. “Boba Fett,” my son answered. I swelled with geeky pride and patted him on the back, “That’s my boy,” I said.

We got home well after 9:00, and we were both pretty tired. CG11’s bed time is usually 8:00, (and we have to wake him in the mornings after 7:00 to get ready for school), and large crowds just wear me out. (I could never do brogrit’s job :-)

All in all, meeting the author was cool. Tom Angleberger seems like a nice guy, and he’s pretty funny in person as well as in his writing.

Bullgrit